Officials in the Eastern Equatoria state capital, Torit, are investigating the circumstances that led to a United Nations Police (UNPOL) officer being assaulted for alleged adultery on Sunday.
According to sources, the incident took place when the police officer and a woman were found in a locked room in Torit Town’s Moruari residential area.
While authorities have not revealed the police officer’s identity, they reported that he was severely beaten and subsequently transferred to Juba for medical treatment, after which he will face legal proceedings.
Maj. Justine Kleopus Takuru, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that the officer was beaten on Sunday evening after the woman’s husband discovered them together in a room. He said a case has been opened and that the police are investigating the matter, after which it will be presented in court.
“On 9 November at around 5:45 p.m., a CID officer brought a UNPOL officer after a male complainant reported that when he returned home from work at around 5 p.m., he found his house locked,” he explained. “That on knocking and the door being opened, he found his wife and the UNPOL officer. The husband then went out and sounded an alarm, which attracted neighbors who apprehended the officer who was trying to run away and beat him up severely until he was taken to the hospital.”
“The next day, the police officer could not urinate, and he was relocated to Juba for treatment and the complainant has opened a case, and investigations are ongoing,” Maj. Kleopus added.
For her part, Clementina Itwari, a women’s activist, advised women to behave well, but said the offender should have been taken to the police and not manhandled.
“As a woman, you are not supposed to do that. I do not know what forced her to do that. It might be the tough economic times. When a woman is married, she is not supposed to misbehave because this kind of behavior can lead to death,” she said. “The relatives of the man and the neighbors should not have beaten the man but allowed the law to take its course.”